With conversations resuming on the future of Emporia’s Carnegie Library, the Emporia Public Library is hoping to lend assistance in finding the right use for the facility.
That was the desire expressed by EPL Director Pauline Stacchini in an interview with KVOE News Wednesday morning, just a week after the Emporia City Commission held its first round of discussions on the matter in roughly three years. Per state statute, the library cannot own any property such as Carnegie, however, you may recall the library did submit a proposal to utilize the facility back in 2022 with plans to use it as the first wave of an expansion of operations, however, that proposal did not lead to any development.
Throughout 2022, conversations on the facility would continue with commissioners considering demolishing the building to convert it into a green space. Stacchini, still settling into the director’s role then, had suggested creating an amphitheater of some kind as one of many suggestions submitted.
While speaking with KVOE News Wednesday, Stacchinni, now three years into her role as EPL Director, says she sees “more options and opportunities” as to what the space could be.
While the library cannot own the facility, she tells KVOE News she’s hopeful her insight and voice can still help play a role in what the facility may become.
Discussions on the Carnegie Library are expected to continue in coming months, however, a date for when those conversations will resume has yet to be announced.
The Carnegie Library was built in 1905 and has been sitting vacant since the Historical Society moved to the Lyon County History Center in 2016. The downtown property is one of two Carnegie Libraries in Emporia, with the other one built on the former College of Emporia campus. The library moved to its current space in 1979 and was filled by the Historical Society shortly afterwards. Cocking says the building has about 3,800 square feet on the main floor along with basement space.
